(July 11, 2019 at 10:21 am)LadyForCamus Wrote:(July 11, 2019 at 9:56 am)tackattack Wrote: Trinity- Yes. I am a father, brother, son, cousin, co-worker, etc.
Resurrection- While there are Lazarus stories in modernity, I don't believe three days of actual complete death could be come back from, unless it's a miracle. Between, people surviving death, people claiming experiences after death, people claiming to see spirits, miracle cures and the scientific of death being a moving target, sure resurrection might be possible. I believe that there's enough subjective belief in supernatural to make the supernatural more than likely.
Talking bushes and donkeys- I see no evidence that it can scientifically happen, but I don't poo-poo at it. I accept that it might not have happened but that it could have.
Yes to be considered a Christian one has to (I believe there might be one or two denominations that don't) believe Christ died and was resurrected in some way.
Okay, so, resurrection after three days of actual complete death you accept is scientifically impossible, and would require a miracle. And, you believe that particular miracle did, in fact, happen as described in the Bible. But, talking donkeys and bushes, which are also described in the Bible, and which you also accept as scientifically impossible without a miracle, you do not hold a positive belief that either of those literally happened. Is that an accurate summation of your position? If so, would you mind explaining the method you used to determine which of these claims was likely a true miracle, and which were likely not? In other words, do you have a confidence level of one supernatural claim that is higher than your confidence level in another, and how did you reach those levels?
I do hold a positive belief in miracles. Burning bush, talking donkey, water from a rock, miraculous healing, walking on water, controlling storms, etc. I do have a confidence level in the resurrection miracle over most of the other miracles. Most of that is probably due to indoctrination and bias. In practical application though, the epistimology of a miracle is equivalent, I just might defend some with more ferocity as the likelihood of alternative explanations rises. The magnitude of the personal demonstrable miracles you are pointing at in the bible, I have not personally witnessed. I do claim that I believe that X, or I understand why X; but not that I know X. I tend to think about how things would be if it were true as a better way to get to further truths; rather than the skeptics view of assuming nothing or that the premise is false.
"There ought to be a term that would designate those who actually follow the teachings of Jesus, since the word 'Christian' has been largely divorced from those teachings, and so polluted by fundamentalists that it has come to connote their polar opposite: intolerance, vindictive hatred, and bigotry." -- Philip Stater, Huffington Post
always working on cleaning my windows- me regarding Johari
always working on cleaning my windows- me regarding Johari